Forbes Selects NPT Jobs Career Center One Of The Best

Forbes magazine just selected NPT Jobs Career Center as one of the top nonprofit recruitment websites in the country. With more than 200,000 page views per month and 600 views per job posting, NPT Jobs Career Center is the place to consider when you are looking for a top executive or administrative position.

Unlike most media, our circulation is exclusively nonprofit executives and administrators. That means your recruitment dollars are aimed at the candidates mostly likely to have the experience and skill sets you need.

The NonProfit Times is now celebrating its 26th year and has won a number of journalism awards for its stories and in-depth coverage of nonprofits. You can take advantage of our reach through a variety of job posting packages that combine print and electronic media to find that unique person.

NPT Jobs Career Center is your direct link to over 300,000 subscribers to our e-newsletters, online and print publications. These subscribers represent over 200 titles in the executive and admin suites. Our posting packages are designed for a budget of any size and offer a range of posting options from print to online to interactive. With as few as 3 listings, the savings start adding up. And just as importantly, the number of qualified candidates will impress you. Most of our subscribers have bachelors and in many cases, masters degrees, with 18 years of nonprofit experience on average. Executive, development, marketing, financial and administrative categories are seeing the most growth.

We can reach the market immediately with our web and social media penetration and print where appropriate to get the most exposure for your job posting.

With the rebound in our economy, postings have increased and that means competition. Head to our nonprofit job posting packages page for more information.

Khloe Kardashian: Husband's Charity Not A Scam

Reality star Khloe Kardashian has taken to the web to deny allegations that her husband Lamar Odom's charity is a scam.

A report on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" program on March 31 alleged that many charities of top athletes don't fulfill their missions as stated. They cited Odom's charity Cathy's Kids as one of the examples, alleging that the organization hasn't given any money to cancer research even though it has raised nearly $2.2 million.

The charity was founded by Odom in 2004 and was named after the NBA star's mother who died from cancer. ESPN noted that the charity was supposed to raise funds for cancer research, but the report alleged that nearly 60 percent of donations has gone to finance two elite youth basketball travel teams and that there is no evidence that any of the remaining $900,000 went to cancer research.

The Huffington Post reported that on Tuesday, Kardashian took to her blog on the website Celebuzz to defend her husband from the allegations. She insisted that the Los Angeles Clippers star has personally donated "millions" of dollars to cancer research, and that none of the money from the charity went to help him or any member of his family.

She also sought to clarify the ultimate mission of Cathy's Kids, saying that the organization was founded with multiple purposes in mind including cancer research and helping underprivileged youth. "A decision was ultimately made that the charity should focus on one of those purposes — to help enrich the lives of underprivileged inner-city youth," wrote Kardashian. "It accomplished that goal. Cathy’s Kids helped fund multiple AAU basketball teams providing underprivileged youth with opportunities enriching their lives, providing financial support for coaching and travel to tournaments, helping inner-city youth on a path toward success and leading many participants to go on to college."

Aside from Odom's charity, the ESPN report also mentions alleged questionable practices by such well-known athletes as New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, whose foundation stopped filing tax returns five years ago, and NFL wide receiver Randy Moss, whose two charities allegedly spent no money on philanthropy in 2010.

Texas AG Investigating Cancer Foundation

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has reportedly launched an investigation into the nonprofit arm of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) in an effort to determine what is happening to the money it has raised.

According to a report in The Austin American Statesman, the Abbott's office sent a letter to the CPRIT Foundation, now known as the Texas Cancer Coalition (TCC), on Friday to request that the organization cease all expenditures until the investigation is complete.

“Based on the preliminary information available to us at this time, we have serious legal concerns about the events that reportedly surrounded the formation of the TCC,” wrote G. David Whitley, the assistant deputy attorney general, in the letter.

TCC raised nearly $3.6 million over three years to supplement the six-figure salaries of CPRIT's top two executives and for conferences to fight cancer. The Foundation, however, was swept up in the ethical questions surrounding CPRIT. The state agency is being investigated by state prosecutors for allegedly mismanaging at least $56 million in grants. The investigation began after it was disclosed that CPRIT allegedly awarded an $11 million grant to a Dallas-base startup without any scientific or business review.

Abbott's office set its sights on TCC after it changed its name and mission. The attorney general believes the Foundation needed state authorization to make such a change. Craig Enoch, a lawyer for TCC, wrote in a response to Whitley's letter that state authorization was not necessary and that TCC leadership had discussed the potential change for months.

“The Foundation, in fact, is unaware of any authority requiring it to seek the Attorney General’s approval were it to actually dissolve and transfer its assets to another private charity with a similar mission,” wrote Enoch.

In terms of the funds raised, TCC spokesman Marc Palazzo told The Statesman that the money would be returned to the state once the organization pays its bills.

You can read the full story in The Austin American Statesman.

The April 1 Issue Of The NonProfit Times

Today is April Fools Day but it's no joke that the new issue of The NonProfit Times is now available.

Although the 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For 2013 Report is the highlight of our April 1 issue, there are other important stories included in this edition of NPT. Let's take a look at some of the top stories, including a new Special Report:

Special Report

• Business Value Boosted When Tied To Nonprofit: In this report, frequent NPT contributor Todd Cohen examines how corporations are moving beyond traditional philanthropy, trumpeting what they are doing to be good corporate citizens and promoting their social investments.

Articles

• Fundraising Via Mobile Apps Can Still Be A Challenge: There’s an app for almost everything, even in fundraising. With mobile devices reaching near-ubiquity, donors want to use their smartphones or tablets to give to their favorite charities. That doesn't mean it's easy to make this a reality for them.
• Americans Took More Deductions In 2011, Hitting $160 Billion: Americans took a collective $160.33 billion in tax deductions for charitable contributions in 2011, an increase of 1.4 percent compared to the $158.18 billion in 2010.
• Charities Push Senate On Restoring Deduction: Some of the nation’s most prominent charities and advocacy groups are asking the U.S. Senate Budget Committee to reconsider changes to the itemized deduction for charitable giving for fear that it would reduce giving by billions of dollars each year.

Columns

• 'Letter' Of The Law: NPT editor-in-chief Paul Clolery says sector leadership needs to take a firmer stand against Charity Navigator's new method for determining whether a charity is a good steward of donor largess.
• 'Y' This Is Important: The news that Medicare has agreed to pay the cost of the YMCA of the USA’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for up to 10,000 qualifying Medicare enrollees over the next three years, as reported on The NonProfit Times’ website, is not just good news for Y. It could benefit the American taxpayer as well, since the initiative is predicted to save Medicare an estimated $4.2 million over the next three years, and potentially $53 million over six years.

The 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For In 2013

Each year, The NonProfit Times conducts a study to determine which nonprofits are the best for which to work. Many organizations come forward to see if they can be named the best, but only one can stake the claim as the number one Best Nonprofit To Work For.

The winner for this year's report, The 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For 2013, is the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), taking home the title home for the second year in a row. The veterans nonprofit was also named the overall best large organization, meaning it has 250 or more employees. Coming in second in that category was Alzheimer's Association, followed by Natural Resources Defense Council, American Heart Association, Year Up, and Masonic Homes of Kentucky, Inc.

In terms of the overall rankings, WWP beat out by such well-known nonprofits as the LIVESTRONG Foundation (#19), DoSomething.org (#11), and Make-A-Wish Illinois (#30).

How do we come up with these rankings? It would seem that the things that make an organization great to work for are subjective, but there is a method to the process. Each year, NPT partners with Harrisburg, Pa.-based Best Companies Groups which conducts a survey of the nonprofits that wish to be ranked in the report. The survey studies all aspects of the organization including benefits and employment practices. Employees were also given a confidential survey of statements with which they could agree or disagree covering eight general categories: Leadership and Planning, Corporate Culture and Communications, Role Satisfaction, Work Environment, Relationship with Supervisor, Training and Development, Pay and Benefits, and Overall Employee Engagement.

The average for all nonprofits that participated was 85 percent favorable rating; for those making the Best Workplaces list the average was 89 percent. The best averages came in Work Environment, 92 percent for all nonprofits surveyed and 94 for those making the list; Relationship with Supervisor, 89 percent of all and 92 percent for those making the list; and, Role Satisfaction and Overall Employee Engagement, each with 88 percent approval for all and 90 percent for those making the list.

Now that you know how the report was compiled, you can head to our website to see the complete list of the 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For 2013.

4 Reasons Your Nonprofit Isn't Having Fundraising Success

Fundraising can be considered a game of chance. Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose. If your nonprofit is losing much more often than winning, however, there could be something wrong with the way you are playing the game.

In the book "Five Good Ideas,"  Ross McGregor, former CEO of Ketchum Canada, lists some of the more common reasons nonprofits don't experience more fundraising success. One of the practices he most highly recommends avoiding is to hire a fundraising consultant to ask for support on your behalf. These individuals should instead be used, McGregor said, to help shape your overall fundraising strategy.

McGregor also listed four other mistakes organizations make in their fundraising practices:

• They don’t ask;
• They don’t make fundraising a priority;
• They hope that their good work will automatically attract financial support; and,
• They fear rejection.

Did A California Nonprofit Receive Special Treatment?

The assistant general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is under investigation to determine her alleged role in awarding a $20,000 no-bid contract to a nonprofit she once chaired.

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, Juliet Ellis earns $195,000 a year for her role at the Commission. Her main job is to figure out how to implement PUC's new policies regarding environmental justice and community benefits. Ellis was formerly chair of the Oakland-based nonprofit Green for All, according to 2012 financial-disclosure documents filed with the city of San Francisco, and this has raised questions about what role she played in approving the July contract for the organization.

PUC guidelines state that administrators are allowed to take on outside work so long as they have special permission and on the condition that there is no conflict of interest.

While Ellis reportedly assured her superiors at PUC that she had no role in the approval of the contract, but an investigation by The Chronicle casts some doubt on that claim. An insider at PUC reportedly told the publication that Ellis was involved in almost every discussion regarding Green for All, and worked with them to "develop the scope of work."

PUC has suspended the Green for All contract indefinitely until the investigation by authorities is complete.

You can read the full story in The San Francisco Chronicle.

Oregon Nonprofit Sued Over Book Publishing

A nonprofit online library based in Oregon is being sued by Penguin Publishing for allegedly posting entire books online of which the company holds exclusive rights.

The publishing giant filed the suit on Friday, seeking an injunction and damages against American Buddha Library, according to The Oregonian. The brief alleges that the nonprofit posted to the web such novels as Upton Sinclair's "Oil!" and "It Can't Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis. The publishes also accused the organization of misusing new translations of "The Golden Ass" by Apuleius, and "On the Nature of the Universe" by Lucretius.

The suit alleges that Penguin discovered the postings in December 2008 and immediately notified the nonprofit of the alleged copyright infringement. The company then filed an infringement suit against American Buddha in a New York federal court, which ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over the nonprofit.

American Buddha's website notes that it "makes available selected artistic and literary works under a system of voluntary, free online lending, under the fair use exclusion from copyright liability accorded to libraries and archives," and used that defense in response to Penguin's suit. The organization also claims that, by using its site, users agree not to violate copyrights "by piratical behavior."

You can read the full story in The Oregonian.

Nonprofit Jobs: Executive Director

Looking to make it big in a nonprofit job in Florida? Our newest featured position will be of interest to you, especially if  you are looking for a job in the c-suite.

The PACE Center for Girls in Jacksonville, Fl., is looking to hire an Executive Director to provide vision, leadership and management of resources to ensure the mission of PACE is accomplished in the local community. Specific responsibilities include:

• Advocating for the needs of girls in the local community;
• Participating in special assignments and projects;
• Providing input and communication pertaining policies, procedures and strategic direction setting;
• Motivates and inspires passion for agency, mission and excellence in roles of responsibility;
• Selects and places highly qualified staff in all positions;
• Develops and implements a succession plan for all major roles in the Center;
• Manages Center finances within approved budget;
• Demonstrates an understanding of the monthly financial reports and is able to identify trends and discrepancies;
• Follows finance policies and procedures to ensure timely compliance;
• Develops a group of supporters that are commensurate in size and capacity to the local community; and,
• Recruits, trains and develops board members on a continuing basis.

Successful candidates will have a Master's Degree in Social Services, Education, or Nonprofit Management from an accredited college or university. Applicants must also be proficient with Mircosoft Office programs and should possess 7-10 years experience managing multiple programs in a child serving agency, preferably in an at-risk environment.

You can find out more information by visiting our career center.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Project Coordinator

Do you have experience working with grants? If so, the latest featured nonprofit job from our online career center might be of interest to you.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) in Chicago, Ill., is looking to hire a Project Coordinator for a grant the organization recently received from the DentaQuest Foundation. The grant examines oral health screening, risk assessment, prevention, and referral by pediatricians and family physicians.

The chosen candidate will be asked to perform the following tasks:

• Coordinating and ensuring timely completion of project activities;
• Maintenance of project-related information and data;
• Maintenance of project related information and data; overseeing the development and dissemination of project materials;
• Organizing focus groups and practice observation sessions; and,
• Serving as liaison to the primary investigator, the grant advisory group, and other collaborative partners.

Applicants will be asked to have a minimum of five years' work experience, preferably in an association or nonprofit. A Master's degree in a related field is preferred, but not required.

You can find out more information by visiting The NonProfit Times' jobs page.

Webinar: Nonprofit Accounting Software Experts Live

Update: Missed yesterday's webinar? You can view it in its entirety online.

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It can be very difficult at time to keep up with the latest advances in nonprofit accounting software. It seems like new trends emerge everyday, making for major headaches when deciding which program to use. That's why anyone who is having trouble with these issues should attend The NonProfit Times' latest webinar with Intacct.

"Nonprofit Accounting Software Experts Live," presented by nonprofit accounting software experts Taylor Macdonald of Intacct, and Susan Campbell, vice president of Soft Trac, will lay out the right direction for those who are having trouble choosing a new accounting system. Using there many years of experience in the field, Macdonald and Campbell will show you how to simplify the process of selecting new software.

This free webinar will also teach you how to:

• Determine what you need from a new accounting system;
• Make sure the system you select maximizes financial transparency and accountability to the board;
• Find the right vendor by following five best practices;
• Take advantage of new options made possible by cloud computing; and,
• Calculate the return on investment (ROI) you can expect from a new cloud financial management and accounting system.

The webinar will begin on March 21 at 2:00 p.m. EST. Register for free today to help your nonprofit take the next step in the world of accounting.

5 Steps To Processing Workplace Accommodations

Most nonprofits will at some point have an employee that needs special accommodations. This is usually in the case of physically disabled employees, and nonprofits in every state are required to consider their requests even if they ultimately cannot be met.

As Barbara Mitchell and Cornelia Gamlem noted in "The Big Book of HR," employers do have some protection from "undue hardship" in providing workplace accommodations for employees. They caution, however, that organizations cannot deny a request without first giving it serious consideration. They suggest the following process for requests for accommodation:

• Consider and document all requests. The responsibility applies to applicants and employees alike.
• Each request should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Evaluate all available options. This includes: Evaluate the job’s functions against the individual’s qualifications during the selection process; identify barriers to job performance; consult with the individual to find specific abilities and limitations relative to the job’s functions; determine if several accommodations are appropriate and determine the effectiveness, cost and impact on the job environment and, consider the individual’s preference;
• Document the possible accommodations considered and resources consulted; and,
• Document the interactive steps – discussions with the individual.

Nonprofit Administrator Sentenced In Theft Case

The former administrator of a nonprofit in Prince George's County, Md., was sentenced to four and a half years in prison Monday on charges that she stole thousands of dollars from the organization.

According to a report on Gazette.net, Penny Parker Green was charged with leading a scheme to steal $166,137 from the Arc of Prince George's County and 72 group home residents between November 2006 and February 2012. During those dates, she allegedly used the company credit card to purchase a flight for an Aruba vacation, install custom closets in her home and purchase computers, electronics, furniture and other merchandise and services.

U.S. prosecutors also charged that Green instructed employees to withdraw cash from residents' bank accounts for her personal use.

Green worked as an administrator at The Arc for 13 years, according to staff at the organization, and made an annual salary of $95,000. Arc Executive Director Mac Ramsey told Gazette.net that Green first was suspected of wrongdoing when he learned that she allegedly lied about having her master's and doctorate degrees, even though those were not requirements for the job. Since the incident, Ramsey said, the organization has reviewed it security practices and closed some loopholes to ensure something like this never happens again.

Green eventually was arrested on May 23 on charges of wire fraud.

U.S. District Court Judge Alexander Williams Jr., also sentenced Green to three years of supervised release and ordered her to pay the Arc $166,137. She was made to forfeit the items she purchased with the company credit card.

You can read the full story on Gazette.net.

9 Telecommuting Procedures

One of the new opportunities available to job seekers is telecommuting. While it certainly has its advantage for potential employees, it can be a challenge for employers.

Programs such as Skype have allowed remote employees to better interact with their co-workers, but it can still be hard when someone is not physically in the office. If your nonprofit decides to allow telecommuting, there must be strict policies put in place to make sure things run as smoothly as possible.

Jeff Tenenbaum, chair of the Nonprofit Organizations Practice Group at Venable LLP, suggested several components that organizations need to include when creating telecommuting policies. These include:

• A clear definition of “telecommuting” for purposes of the telecommuting policy and any agreements between the employer and the employee;
• Easy-to-understand eligibility requirements;
• The steps of the telecommuting-approval procedure;
• Clarity that participation in the telecommuting program is a privilege and not a right, subject to revocation at any time for any lawful reason;
• Notice that abuse of telecommuting can result in disciplinary action, including termination;
• Understanding of the employer’s right to inspect the home-based work environment;
• A non-disclosure and confidentiality agreement;
• Statement of the employer’s right to change the terms of its telecommuting policy; and,
• Clear language that the telecommuting employee is expected to meet the same performance standards as on-site employees.

Former Girl Scout Treasurer Accused Of Theft

The former treasurer of a Girl Scouts troop in Douglasville, Ga., allegedly stole nearly $10,000 from the group according to police.

Darlene Jo Lewis allegedly stole $9,800 from Girl Scout Troop 798, according to a report on the website of Fox Atlanta. Investigators state that she was treasurer of the organization from 2010 to 2012, and that her daughter was also a member of the troop. She was arrested by local police on Friday.

Investigators allege that Lewis used the money she stole to pay for gifts for herself, her son, and a senior dating service. Troop 798 will be disbanding because of the loss of money, according to police.

Lewis faces charges of felony theft by taking and is being held on bail at Douglas County Jail.

You can read the full story on MyFox Atlanta.

Exempt Magazine: Winter 2013 Edition

The new issue of The NonProfit Times was released last Friday and today we have another new release, this time for our sister publication, Exempt Magazine.

The Winter 2013 edition of Exempt covers a variety of topics in the world of nonprofit finance, including the very important issue of Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs). Here is a sneak peek at some of the stories you can expect to find in this issue:

Articles

• Annuities On The Comeback Trail: Historically low interest rates are driving up interest in Charitable Gift Annuities (CGA) around the nonprofit sector. This article takes a look at some of the organizations that are seeing the biggest increases.
• Beyond Strategic Planning: Nonprofit board expert Dennis Miller explains the different ways a nonprofit can "recharge," especially through the traditional means of strategic planning.

Column

• Your Next Hire: There are a number of persistent myths about background checks that get in the way of sound screening practices. Screening prospective staff and volunteers effectively begins with understanding these myths.

Want to view the full issue of Exempt? Head to our online store and purchase a digital or print edition of the magazine.

The March 15 Issue Of The NonProfit Times

March 15 is known as the Ides of March, something we are told to "beware." There's no danger here at The NonProfit Times, though, as we have just released our March 15 issue.

The new edition covers a variety of stories, from continued turnover at Komen to a so-called "donorbomb" at a university. Let's take a closer look at some of the new content:

Articles

• CEO Turnover Continue At Some Komen Chapters: Nearly a year after Susan G. Komen for the Cure's much maligned decision (and then reversal) to stop funding Planned Parenthood, the organization is still dealing with fallout in the form of continued CEO turnover.
• Chefs Chop Away At Hunger: One of the more popular shows on the Food Network is "Chopped," which has four chefs battle to create a perfect three-course meal. On a special episode aired on election day, four chefs working the kitchens of nonprofits gave the panel of judges quite a show.
• University's Postcard 'Bombing' Actually A Good Thing: Saint Peter’s, in celebration of its 140th anniversary this past May, sought to gain 140 new donors in one day. The initiative was officially called “Let’s Get It Done June 1,” but it was known internally as “Donorbomb.”

Columns

• Getting Cooperation: The Nature Conservancy has been working to get back to where it was financially before the Great Recession, making a push to expand its audience. To that end, it has been getting more deeply involved in cooperative databases, operations by which organizations can share their lists rather than selling or simply exchanging them.
• Risky Business: To meet its 2010 strategic plan of growing members and supporters, the Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign needed to expand its reach and engage more broadly in areas that it previously had not, according to Ann Crowley, director of membership and online strategy. And so, HRC in August 2011 launched “On The Road to Equality,” a bus tour visiting 19 cities.

These are just a sampling of the articles you can expect to find in the March 15 issue of The NonProfit Times. To see all of the content, head to our online store to purchase either a digital or print subscription of NPT.

6 Steps To A Grant Proposal

Are you ready to apply for one of the funding opportunities on The NonProfit Times's Grant Page? Great; your next step will be to put together a competitive proposal that will give your organization the best chance to be selected for funding.

According to Barbara Floersch, director of The Grantsmanship Center in Los Angeles, Calif., not any old grant proposal will be enough to perk the interest of the funder. “The quality of the process you use to put the proposal together directly affects competiveness,” she explained.

Floersch said that the first step to having a quality grant proposal process is to mobilize a team of people invested in the project, assign a leader, lay out a timeline, and assign tasks. The demands of the proposal will dictate some tasks, but here are six that should always be included:

• Gather Letters of Commitment: Get a letter from each substantive collaborator documenting the role they’ll play;
• Assemble Attachments: Be sure documents are updated, and get them into the required format, usually electronic;
• Finish the Research: Find information to fill remaining blanks. You might need a few more statistics, a couple of quotes, or even a literature review of the project’s approach;
• Develop the Budget: The narrative and budget must be perfectly synced. Be sure the financial person and writer work hand-in-hand;
• Draft the Narrative: When several people contribute sections, you’ll need one writer to pull it together to ensure cohesiveness and give it one voice;
• Have Others Review the Entire Proposal Package: Accept that you’re too enmeshed in the work to review it objectively. Have a couple of people critique the package. Does it respond exactly to application guidelines? Are all elements clear and convincing? Does each element support the others? Allow time for corrections.

China To Lift Nonprofit Restrictions

The Chinese government announced Wednesday that it will lift some of its long-standing restrictions for outside nonprofit organizations, potentially opening the door to a greater partnership with these groups.

According to a report on ABC News' website, Civil Affairs Minister Li Liguo said in a news conference that as part of the Cabinet's recently announced restructuring, the government will begin to expand the functions that external nonprofits, which they call social organizations, are allowed to perform.

"Overall, from now on, the role that our country's social organizations will play in economic and social development will be expanded and strengthened," Li said at the Beijing news conference.

In the past organizations would have to find government sponsors in order to obtain official registration that would grant them nonprofit status in the eyes of the Chinese government, allowing them to operate legally, raise funds domestically, and be eligible for some tax deductions. That process will no longer be necessary, Li announced, as groups will be able to register themselves directly through the Civil Affairs Ministry. While Li did not explain how applications would be assessed, he said the Ministry would set up a mechanism to process registrations and supervise and regulate independent groups.

The new changes would apply to nonprofits, charities, community service groups, industry associations, and organizations that work in science and technology. This would seem to exclude organizations that are working to expose environmental pollution or expand the rule of law. It is also unclear whether nonprofits that operate in other "sensitive" areas, such as AIDS prevention, would be treated differently. Such nonprofits are frequently reported as being harassed by local police and tax authorities.

Lu Jun, organizer of the anti-discrimination group Yirenping, acknowledged to The Associated Press that the new changes indicate that the Chinese government doesn't view all nonprofits as a threat now. Still, he said that by seemingly excluding these more sensitive groups, China still has a long way to go.

"Not opening up to these kinds of organizations is a huge flaw," he reportedly told the AP.

You can read the full story on ABC News' website.

Ex-Nonprofit Director Sues Indiana Mayor

The former head of a nonprofit in Hammond, Ind., has filed a suit against the city's mayor and the organization over allegations that she was wrongfully fired.

According to a report in the NWI Times, Carlotta Blake-King alleged that the defendants -- including Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., City Councilman Anthony Higgs, and United Neighborhoods, Inc. (UNI) -- conspired to remove her from her position as director at UNI in retaliation for her candidacy for City Council.

Blake-King ran an unsuccessful campaign against Councilman Higgs in 2011, whom Mayor McDermott supported.

For his part, McDermott said in a statement Monday that Blake-King's allegations are "completely untrue," and that her firing was due to her "unsatisfactory" performance as director of the nonprofit agency, which is partially funded by the city's Department of Planning and Development.

According to the complaint filed by Blake-King, she was fired after an alleged "special meeting" of UNI's Board of Directors, where she was allegedly "berated" by Phil Taillon, executive director of the Department of Planning and Development, over her character and performance. The complaint also alleges that Nicole Bennet, an attorney, stated during that same meeting that Blake-King's candidacy for office while holding the position of director violated a federal act that bars certain employees from taking part in partisan politics.

Blake-King, through her lawsuit, is seeking the wages and benefits she would have earned had she not been fired from UNI.

You can read the full story in the NWI Times.